Shock absorber



R. I. BATES SHOCK ABSORBER Jan. 16, 1934.

Filed March 8, 1929 FICE T!) STATES All SHOCK ABSORBER Ralph Irwin Bates, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to Delco Products Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application March 8, 1929. Serial No. 345,478

'7 Claims. (Cl. 267-8) This invention relates to improvements in of the piston 41. On each side of the lug 40, the shock absorbers, particularly adapted to cushion piston head has an opening 42 adapted to prothe movements oi two relatively movable Inemvide for the transfer of iluid from one side of bers, for instance, the frame and axle of a vethe piston to the other.

hicle. y An annular recess in the inner surface of the VD It is among the objects of the present invenhead of piston 4l has the base plate 43 of the tion to provide a shook absorber adapted to pervalve seat member 44 seated therein, the base mit slight or slow movements of the relatively plate being provided with a depending, annular movable members Without resisting said movelange 45. The cuter and inner surfaces of the l0 ments, said shock absorber, however, being caannular flange converge, providing a sharp, an- CU pable of electively cushioning the more extendnular edge, as shown in the Fig. 2. A central ed movements of said relatively movable memopening in the base plate 43 supports the valve bers. pin 46, upon which valve 47 is sldably supported.

Further objects and advantages of the present A spring 48, interposed between valve 47 and an W HVSHOD Will be apparel-"1i Om T116 OllOWiIlg abutment cup 49, attached to the outer end of U description, reference being had to the accomthe valve stem 45, yieldably urges the valve 47 Danville drawing. wherein a preferred embodiinto seating engagement with the aforemenment of one iorm of the present invention is tiene@ Sharp edge of the annular valve seat clearly shown. ange 45. Apertures 50 are provided in the base In the dlaWIlg plate 43 of valve seat member 44. The valve Fisl S e `View illustrating the YOIlt end 0f a seat member is maintained in position in the anmotor vehicle frame Supported 0n the axle by cular recess of the piston head by the spring 52, the usual shrines. the Shock absorber equipped one end 0f which rests upon the end wall so of with the present invention beine Shown applied the cylinder 29, the other end engaging the valve 26 thereto. seat member 44. The spring 52 urges the piston C@ Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the 41 upwaydy in the Cylinder 29s away from the Shck absobe Clearly Showing m5 improved- Te end wall 30, when the vehicle wheels strike an i-ef VEVG- obstruction in the roadway and springs 21 are Referring to the drawing the :mmeral .20 flexed toward the frame of the vehicle, so that designates @he frame 0I the Vehme. havmg the strap connection 33 is slacked. As the piston springs 21 hingedly attached thereto, which sup- 4l moves upwardly the arm 35 and the Shaft 31 port me frame 20 mfom the afxle 22' 1 move i'. a counter-clockwise direction, conse- Th@ Shock absorbel teslgnateda Whoe-by quenuy the arm s2 of Shaft s1 will be moved the numeral 23, comprises a casing 24, having hb .d 1 k th tra apertured lugs 25, adapted to receive studs for Clockwlfe to fake u? t Sal s ac n e s 4I; c attaching the shock absorber to the vehicle Cmmedon This movemenjt. of t e piston Hama A partition 27 is pmvided Within the away from tue end wall 2&0 of .its cyl'lndei 39 w111 casing 24, said partition dividing the casing into 0211159 the Vahle mechanism mcludmg Valve 47 a fluid reservoir 28 and a cylinder 29. The one to establish a substantialh7 free l-OW Qf lld 4o end of the cylinder communicates with the fluid from the huid chamber 28 through openings 42 o5 reservoir 28, the other end of the cylinder is and 5) into the cylinder 29. I l closed by the end wall 30. Casing 24 provides As soon as the spring 2l has reached the limit bearings in which is journalled the shaft portion of its flexure, the tendency thereof will be to 31 of the shock absorber operating arm 32. The return to normal, unilexed position with agud- `free end or arm 32 has one end oi the strap 23 den, rebounding movement, which, if permitted, 10o

attached thereto, the other end of the strap is would result in uncomfortable jars and Jolts beanchored to the bracket 34, which is, in turn, seing transmitted to the frame 2G of the vehicle. As cured to the axle 22 by a clamp 35. the spring 2l begins to move away from the frame Upon the shaft portion 31 extending across 20 on its unilexing stroke, the pull exerted upon the fluid reservoir 28 there is mounted a rocker strap connection 33 will rotate the arm 32 and 105 arm 36 which is securely attached to the shaft its shaft 3l in a clockwise direction, thus the by a set Screw 37. The free end of the arm 36 rocker arm 36 will push the piston 40 downhas links 38 attached thereto, said links also Wardly into its cylinder causing the valve 47 to being secured to a pin 39, which is journalled in be shut tightly, and thus exerting pressure upon an opening in the lug 40 formed on the head `the fluid within the cylinder 29. 'rms pressure 11o must be relieved by venting the fluid from the cylinder into the fluid reservoir 28.

The partition 27 of the device has a port 6G, providing communication between the iiuid reservoir 28 and the cylinder 29. The outer wall of the casing 24 has a screw-threaded aperture 61 in coaxial alignment with the port 60. A recessed screw plug 62 is received by the screwthreaded aperture 61, a gasket 63 being provided between the wall or" the casing and the screw plug 62 to prevent leakage at this point. The flow of uid through the port 69 is controlled by a pressure relief valve adapted to establish two paths for the escapement of the fluid from the cylinder 29 into the fluid reservoir 28. The pressure relief valve comprises two valve members, one of which slidably supports the other. The one valve member designated by the numeral 70 is tubular, the one end thereof being closed as at 71, this end of the valve tting slidably into the recess of the screw plug 62. rIhe other end of the tubular valve member 70 is designated by the numeral 64 and telescopically nts into the port 60, the outer surface thereof being provided with an annular groove 65 wl^c1 is in communication with the interior of the tubular valve portion 64 through cross passages 66. An outwardly extending annular fiange 67 is provided on this valve member, said flange being urged into engagement with the valve seat 68 provided on the partition 27, by a spring 69, which surrounds the valve member 70 and is interposed between the flange 67 and the inner edge of the screw plug 62. The other valve member termed the plunger valve 73 is slidably supported within the tubular valve member 70. This plunger valve comprises a cylindrical head portion and a steam portion extending therefrom and being of lesser diameter than said head portion. A spring 76 interposed between the head portion of the plunger valve 73 and the closed end 7l of the tubular valve member 70 urges the plunger valve into engagement with the stop ring 77 which is Y secured within the tubular portion 64 of the valve 70 in any suitable manner, such as staking or the like. In the head portion of the plunger valve 73 there is provided a recess 74 substam tially coaxial of the said plunger valve, said recess opening into the interior of the tubular por-- tion 64 which in turn opens into the port 60. The head portion of the plunger valve '73 has an annular groove in its outer surface which is in communication with the recess 74 through cross passages 35. In the tubular valve member 70 there are provided openings 72 so positioned in the valve member 70 that the annular groove 75 of the plunger valve is normally in alignment with said openings 72 so that normally communication is provided between the fluid chamber 28 and the cylinder 29 through openings 72, annular passage 75 of the plunger valve, cross passages 35 of the said valve, recess 74, tubular member 64 and port 60.

An orifice 78 in the tubular extension 70 provides communication between the iiuld reservoir 28 and the space inside the tubular valve 79 behind the plunger valve 73, so that fluid may enter said space and act as a dash-pot for plunger valve 73 to cushion its movement toward the left, as regards Fig. 2, said movement being substantially stopped by said dash-pot when the plunger valve 73 has been moved sufficiently towards the left to close the orifice 78, at which time the head portion of the valve 73 will have closed ducts 72, and thus, will have broken the communication between the reservoir 28 and the port 60. The skirt of the piston is provided with an opening 80 adapted to maintain communication between the cylinder and port 60 even after the bottom of the skirt has been moved beyond the eonnes of said port.

Normally, the fluid passage is maintained between the cylinder 29 and the fluid reservoir 28 through the port 60, interior of the tubular portion 64, recess 74 and cross passages 85 and annular groove i5 of the plunger valve 73 and openings 72 in the tubular portion of the valve portion 70. This fluid ilow is normally maintained to permit free centering of the piston, that is, slight movements of the axle 22 toward or away from the frame 20 will cause slight reciprocations of the piston 41 in its cylinder 29, thus the slight downward movements of said piston will force fluid from the chamber 29 through the aforedescribed iiuid passage and substantially no resistance is offered to such movements of the piston. if, however, the movements of the axle 22 become more extended and are increased in speed, downward movements of the piston will exert a greater pressure upon the plunger valve 73 which, overcoming the elfects of spring 76 and cf the dash pot behind said plunger valve 73, will move said valve toward the left in the tubular portion 7G, thus causing the plunger valve 73 to shut off communication between the openings 72 and the recess 74, and thus, the fluid ow from the cylinder 29 through the tubular portion 64 and the recess 74 of the plunger valve 73 is discontinued. Continued movement of the piston 4l under these conditions will tend to increase the fluid pressure within the cylinder 29, which, after having reached a predetermined degree, will move the valve portion 70, so that its annular flange 67 will be moved from its seat 68, and thus, there is established a flow from cylinder 29 through port 60A into the tubular portion 46, thence through the cross passage 66 of said tubular portion and the space provided between the annular ange 67 and the valve seat 68, the size of this space, between said flange and valve seat, being governed by the degree of fluid pressure upon the relief valve.

From the aforegoing, it may be seen that a substantially low restricted flow of fluid from the cylinder into the fluid chamber is maintained i within a certain range of low fluid pressure, said fluid flow being gradually cut off in response to increasing fluid pressures. Another restricted iiuid flow from the cylinder 29 into the fluid reservoir 28 is established in response to a predetermined increase in :fluid pressure over that mentioned before. More specifically, the plunger valve 73 is normally in open position to establish its flow under normal conditions while the other valve 70 is closed. This said other valve lr" 7i) will not open until the plunger valve 73 has been moved by iiuid pressure to stop its fluid ow. Neither will the plunger valve 73 move to open until the other valve 70 has been permitted to close.

Control of the shock absorber may be varied by changing the sizes of the openings or cross passages 85 and the openings 72, or by inserting springs 76 of different tensions. The effect of valve 70 may be varied by changing the spring 69.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed 1s as follows:

1. A shock absorber comprising, a liquid containing reservoir, a cylinder having a port communicating with said reservoir, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, a spring actuated relief valve in said port provided with a tubular stem, having apertures to permit fluid to by-pass the Valve while seated, in response to slight or slow movements of the piston; a plunger in said tubular stem adapted to close said apertures and discontinue the by-passing of fluid in response to higher pressures caused by increased movements of the piston, said relief valve being movable to open the port and establish a flow therethrough in response to sudden and extended movements of the piston causing substantially higher fluid pressures in the cylinder.

A shocl; absorber comprising, in combination, a casing, a partition within said casing dividing it into a fluid chamber and a cylinder portion; a piston in the cylinder forming a compression chamber therein; a port in the partition connecting the compression and liuid chambers; a relief valve for controlling the flow of fluid through said port, said valve comprising a tubular member having an annular flange yieldably urged against the partition to close the said port, said tubular member having ducts connecting the interior of the tubular member With the fluid reservoir; and a plunger slidably carried Within the tubular member and having passages normally aligned with the ducts and opening into the port end or" the tubular member; said plunger being operable at a predetermined pressure to shut ofi" communication between the interior of the tubular member and the huid chamber.

3. A shock absorber comprising, in combination, a easing providing a uid reservoir and a cylinder, one in communication with the other through a port; a piston adapted to be operated within the cylinder to force fluid, under pressure, from the cylinder, through the port, into the reservoir; and means for controlling said iiow of fluid through the port, said means comprising a normally open valve adapted to be closed for completely shutting off its flow of fluid in response to a predetermined fluid pressure in the port, and also comprising a second valve, normally closed, but adapted, in response to a predetermined uid .i pressure Within the port, to be moved to establish another flow of liuid through said port.

il. A shook absorber comprising', in combination, a casing providing a fluid reservoir and a cylinder, one in communication with the other through a port; a piston adapted to be operated within the cylinder to force iiuid, under pressure, from the cylinder, through the port, into the reservoir; and uid flow control means for said port adapted, in response to predetermined iiuid pressures, to vary the iiow of fluid through said port, said fluid flow control means comprising a valve normally open for establishing a restricted flow of fluid through the port but adapted, in response to predeterminately increasing fluid pressure, gradually to increase the restriction to the flow of fluid and finally completely cut off said fiow, and comprising another valve, normally closed, but which, in response to a predetermined increase in fluid pressure, is adapted to establish another flow of fluid through the port, and only after the first valve has been moved to shut off its flow.

5. A shock absorber comprising, in combination, a casing providing a fluid reservoir and a cylinder, one in communication with the other through a port; a piston adapted to be operated Within the cylinder to force fluid, under pressure from the cylinder, through the port, into the reservoir; and a iiuid flow controlling mechanism for said port comprising two valves, one normally open the second normally closed, said valves being adapted to be operated successively, v

the one by predeterminately increasing pressure gradually to restrict and nally completely cut off the flow of fluid established thereby, the second by a predetermined higher fluid pressure to establish its flow of fluid through the port.

6. A shock absorber having a fluid chamber provided with an outlet passage; a valve yieldably urged into said passage and adapted to establish iiow from said passage both through and around said valve; a slide valve in said first mentioned TS valve yieldably urged to permit the fluid flow through said first valve and adapted in response to fluid pressure to be actuated completely to discontinue the said fluid flow through said valve;

and a fluid displacement member in said fluid 5T' chamber.

7. A shock absorber having a fluid chamber provided with an outlet passage; a fluid flow control mechanism for said passage, said mechanism comprising a tubular valve yieldably urged into l@ said passage and adapted, without movement, to establish a flow of fluid from said passage through the valve and, by its movement to establish another flow from the passage around said valve,

and a slide valve within said tubular valve yield- L' ably urged, normally to permit the fluid flow through the tubular valve, but adapted completely to shut off said flow in response to a predetermined fluid pressure in said passage, and a fluid displacement member in the fluid chamber. .-jl

RALPH IRWIN BATES. 

